Inking device



May281945f o. W. MARI` E$ n v H 2,400,938

INKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1944 v JNVENTOR. ORL/W0 W. MAR/(EJ I BY ze@ v l ATTORNEYV -v Patented May 2K8, 1946 UNITED STATES rA'rENT l OFFICE INxmG DEVICE Orland Marlies, Detroit, Mich.' Application December 16, 1944,'seria1 No. 568,506

ations and modifications shall be encompassed 8 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an ink applicator adapted for use on calculating machines and other types of machines in which a ribbon is used and against which type or other marking materials `are pressed for producing the desired writing on paper, cardboard, or other material. In these types of machines, the ribbon is generally caused to travel while the writing machine is being operated. The ribbons commonly used are impregnated with ink in the manufacture of the ribbon' and after the ribbon has been used a period of time, the impregnated ink becomes consumed and it is necessary then to replace the ribbon with a new one, even though the ribbon itself may not be wom out. The present invention provides a mechanism whereby the ink may be applied to the ribbon without removing it from the machine in which it is used so that it becomes possible during the entire life of the fabric of the ribbon to maintain the proper inking of the ribbon so that the impressions or writing obtained fromthe use of the ribbon in a writing or calculating machine will always be of uniform shade.

It is an object of the present invention to pro-y vide an ink applicator of this class which will be simple in structure, economical of manufacture, durable, compact and highly efficient in use.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an ink applicator which may be easily and quickly swung into ink applying position and out of ink applying position. d

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an lnk applicator which may be easily moved to various positions transversely of the ribbon so that the application of the ink to the ribbon may be effected throughout the entire width of it.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a mechanism of this type of a wickcarrying member eccentrically mounted on a ro" tatable body.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an ink applicator of a wick-carrying member rockable transversely of its longitudinal axis.

Another object of, the invention is the pro- K vision in an ink applicator of a mechanism for rocking the wick-supporting member transversely of its llongitudinal axis. y

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various changes and modifications may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention itself and it is intended that such variwithin the scope of the claims which form a part hereof. i Forming a part of this specification is a drawing in which Fig. l is a rear elevational view lof a part of a writing machine showing the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, central, sec.- y

tional view of the invention; l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; y

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig.2; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a slight modification of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig.5;

Fig. l is a sectional view taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 5; l

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 o f jects above the base I6. Attached to the stand'- ard 2l is a reservoir 22 which serves as a container for the ink. Slidably mounted in this reservoir or container 22 is a tube 23. Mounted on the inner surface of the tube 23 is a plate 24 to which is attached, or which may be formed integral therewith, a tube 25 curved to provide a goose neck and on the end of which is attached the fitting 26. A plate 21 extends outwardly from thisfitting and is provided with an opening 28.

" Passed through the tube 25 is a wick 29.y This wick is brought over the end of the plate 21 and passed through the opening 28. This wick extends downwardly into the reservoir 22 so that it is submerged in the ink contained in the reservoir. As shown in Fig. 1, the reservoir 22 is mounted adjacent the path of travel of the ribbon I9.

After it is 'mounted in position and the reservoir 22 provided with a suilicient quantity of ink, the tube 23 may be moved longitudinally of the reservoir 22 until the applying end of the wick I9 andcomprises a supporting resiliency to maintain itself in any position longitudinally ofthe reservoir 22 to which it may be moved. This tube 23 ls also rotatable and by having the plate 24 mounted on one side of the tube 23, an eccentric mounting is provided so that the applying end of the wick may be quickly and easily moved out of engagement with the ribbon or into engagement therewith. The construction is such that the operator of the machinemay apply the ink to the ribbon when necessary and by having the wick-carrying member movable longitudinally of the stationary reservoir, the wick may be 'moved transversely of the ribbon to cover any desired portion of it.

In Fig.A 5, I have illustrated a modiiicationof the invention in which a supporting standard 2|a is used. This supporting standard has a laterally projecting arm 3|! at one side thereof and a pair of laterally projectingV arms 3| and 32 at the other side thereof in longitudinally spaced relation to each other. These laterally projecting arms 3| and 32 are provided merely to adapt the structure to a particular type of duplicating or writing machine. A supporting plate 33 is provided with a laterally extending arm 34 which is pivoted by means of the rivet 35 to the arm 30. This plate 33 is provided with a knuckle 36 which embraces a reservoir or ink container 22a 'so that the reservoir or ink container is thus mounted upon the plate 33. The lower end of the plate 33 is provided with a pair of spaced apart yoke xarms 31 and 38 which embrace the cylindrical stud 39 which is eccentrically mounted rotatably on the standard 2|a. Mounted on this standard 2|a is a bar 40 having teeth 4| formed in its upper face. Overlying and engaging the upper 'face of the member 40 is a clip 42 which is attached to and serves as a means for rotating the stud 39. This stud 39 is pivoted on the pin 43 which carries the head 44. Bearing against this head 44 is one end of a spring 45, the other end of which bears against the rear face of the plate 2|a. The construction is such, that upon rocking the member 42 from one side to the other, the cam member 39 will be rotated so as to rock the reservoir-carrying plate 33. This causes a tilting o'f the container or reservoir 22a 'relative to its longitudinal axis.

Slidably mounted in the reservoir 22a is a split sleeve or tube 23a. Mounted on the inner face of the sleeve or tube 23a at one side thereof is a plate 24a which is formed into a tube 46 at its upper end, terminating in the angularly turned tubular portion 41 having the outwardly projecting, angularly turned lip. 48 in which a passage 49 is formed. Passed through the tubes 46 and 41 is a wick 29a, the end of which is drawnl through the opening 49 so as to cover the end of the lip 48. When the supporting member 2|a is mounted in its proper position, similar to the mounting of the member 2| shown in Fig. 1, the tube 41 may be swung on the axis of the tube 23a into or out of engagement with the ribbon which it is dcsired to, inki` This wick may also be moved upwardly and downwardly, relatively to the reservoir 22a which contains the ink, so that a movement of the applicator transversely of the ribbon may be effected.

Within certain limits, the applying end of the wickmay also be moved upwardly and downwardly by a rotation of the cam 39. This would cause the member 33 to be tilted so that the end of the tube 41 may be moved upwardly and downwardly within these limits. This would permit the inking of the ribbon at various points transversely of it. without necessitating a longitudinal movement of the tube 24a relatively to the reservoir 22a.

Experience has shown that an ink applicator constructed ln this maner is most emcient and is productive of considerable saving in ribbon costs 2. An inking device of the class described com-V prising a', supporting member; a'reservoir mounted on said supporting member; an open ended tube inserted in said reservoir and rotatable therein and slidable longitudinally thereof; a conducting tube mounted on said rst mentioned tube and projecting upwardly therefrom and angularly thereto; a wick extended through said conducting tube and into said reservoir; and means on said conducting tube for securing one end of said wick. y

, 3. In an inkingdevice of the class described, a supporting member; a reservoir mounted on said supporting member and adapted for reception of ink; a wick projected at one end into the ink in said reservoir; a conducting tube extending upwardly and angularly of said reservoir, said wick being projected through said projecting tube; and means for mounting said conducting tube eccentrically of said reservoir in rotatable relation to said reservoir and longitudinally slidbeing projected through said projecting tube;

means for mounting said conducting tube eccentrlcally of said reservoir in rotatable relation to said reservoir and longitudinally slidable thereof; and attachment means on the end of said conducting tube .for securing the outer end of said wick.

5. In an inking device of the class described, a supporting bracket; a reservoir for the reception of ink; means for mounting said reservoir on said bracket; means for tilting said reservoir relatively to said bracket on the mounting of said reservoir; and a' wick retainer extending longitudinally from the upper end of said reservoir and tiltable in unison therewith. e

6. An inking device of the class described, comprising: a supporting member; a reservoir mounted on said supporting member; a wick projecting at one end into said reservoir for emersion in ink contained therein and projecting at its opposite end outwardly from said reservoir; and a supporting member for 'the outer end of said wick angularly turned and projecting laterally outwardly of said reservoir and rotatable relativelyV thereto.

deconne@ 7. An in device of the cies-s described, dem prising: a i supporting miner; e. reservoir mounted on said supporting member; e, tube in serted in and communicating with the interior of said reservoir and' rotatable reietiveiy thereto; a. conducting tube mounted ou seid first men tioned tube and projecting upwdrdiy therefrom and angularly thereto; and o. wick extended through said conducting twice and into seid rervoir.

d. An inking device of the ciess described, com prising: a, supporting vmember; e. reservoir mounted on seid supporting member; a tube inserted tn d in communication with the 1x1- tcrior of seid reservoir and rotatable relatively thereto; e, wick projecting into said reservoir ot one end for emersion in ink contained thereiin` timid projecting et its opposite end outwardly from seid resesvoir; und a, rigid supporting member carried by seid tube and projecting outwardly from said reservoir end ulariy turned reitiveiy to seid tube forsupporting the outer end ot' seid wick. 

